A Chinese expert has warned that there could be major confrontations between Beijing and Washington on the economic front after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on Friday.

Pang Zhongying, a US affairs expert at a Chinese university, on Saturday said President Trump is expected to employ "all possible means" to pressure Beijing into giving into his demands on trade deals.

For Trump to gain concessions on trade deals, Pang said the newly-installed president would go as far as linking trade disputes with political issues.

'Worst to Come'

Based on Trump's inaugural speech, Pang said Beijing should brace itself "for the worst to come" in its dealings with the US under the new administration.

In Trump's speech, which observers said was a repeat of his campaign speeches, the US leader said he would prioritize giving back jobs to the American people and that he would put his constituents' interests first when crafting his economic and foreign policies.

"Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength," he said.

Trade Agreements

Trump said all nations found violating trade agreements with the US and harming American workers would be punished.

He reiterated that he would take all the measures at his disposal to put a stop to "to these abuses."

Pang said Trump's speech took on a populist approach, reiterating his campaign battle cry: "Make America Great Again."

"China should brace itself for the complicated Sino-US relations that is to come under the Trump administration. A trade war between China and the US seems inevitable," he said.

China had earlier told Trump that the "One China" policy was non-negotiable and warned that Beijing would "retaliate" if Trump insists on abandoning the decades-old US foreign policy.

"Trump will do everything he can to push China to give concessions ... Beijing should make some worst-case scenario planning, even though the development may not be as bad as we have expected," the expert added.